Southwestern Oklahoma State University student teachers (far right) Shanna Kays of Hobart and Davon Izaguirre of Clinton deliver homework supply kits to a class at Eugene Field Elementary School in Oklahoma City.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University students from the Department of Education in Weatherford recently raised money to provide homework supply kits to approximately 200 elementary students at various Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) sites.

The SWOSU students presented the kits during a field trip that was organized to provide preservice teacher training in diverse school settings as required by NCATE. The future teachers spent the day with a teacher in one of 12 schools in the OKCPS.

Each kit consisted of a school box, a box of 24 crayons, a glue stick and a SWOSU pencil. These kits were sent home with students whose families are financially challenged and may not have these school supplies at home on a regular basis.

“The SWOSU Department of Education is excited to provide this opportunity for our 47 student teachers and these Oklahoma City school students,” said Bruce Belanger, coordinator of student teaching and field experiences at SWOSU. “The schools opened their doors for our student teachers and faculty to experience their diverse educational settings.”

Shannon Freeman, administrator of recruitment/retention with the OKCPS, along with a team of OKCPS human capital professionals, spoke to the student teachers a week prior to the field trip to help the student teachers prepare for the experience.